-4- 



The modern strawberry is truly £in American fruit. Strawberries were 

 grcjwn in Europe several centuries ago but it was not until the Virginiaia straw- 

 berry from North America and the Chilean strawberry from South America v;ere 

 crossed in Europe, about the middle of the Eighteenth Century, that the gar- 

 den strav/berry began to emerge as an importajit fruit. 



—A. P. French 



COIIMERCIAL APPLE CROP PROSPECTS IN THE U,S, 



Early May (through May 8) conditions suggest a much smaller United 

 States apple production than in 1944, but probably a larger harvest than the 

 extremely short 1943 crop. In the East and Mid-v/est, an unusually warm March 

 advanced buds. The bloom was from 2 to 4 v^reeks earlier than usual in nearly 

 all commercial areas. This advancement of the season prevented the usual 

 spray program in many orchards, and insects and diseases may be a greater 

 problem than usual. April and early May freezes killed buds and small fruits, 

 cold, cloudy weather was unfavorable for the flight of bees, and further frost 

 damage may occur in some northern areas. An extremely light production is 

 probable for the area east of the Mississippi River. In the West, the season 

 is late. May 1 prospects in this area are favorable for large crops again 

 this year, but probably not quite as large as in 1944. 



In New England, frosts on April 23 and 24 caused heavy damage to buds 

 and bloom, and weather conditions since April 24 have been unfavorable for 

 pollination. In New York, loss from several April freezes was spotty, with 

 injury very severe in the Charaplain area, severe in the Hudson, moderate in- 

 land in western New York, and light in orchards along Lake Ontario. Through- 

 out the state the cold, cloudy and rainy weather v/as unfavorable for pollina- 

 tion during the unusually early and long blooming period. In New Jersey , 

 freezes April 5-7 caused only slight injury to most orchards, but the' 

 freeze on April 23 reduced prospects materially. Early varieties such as 

 Transparent and Starr are sizing rapidly. Harvest is expected to start around 

 June 20, about 10 days earlier than usual. In Pennsylvania, conditions are 

 spotty, with a light set on trees which bore heavily last^year and with much 

 frost damage during April in low and exposed orchards. A heavy frost on 

 May 2 caused additional loss. In northern and western Pennsylvania counties, 

 except Erie, apples are a near failure. 



In Vi rginia , the crop will be extremely light and variable, largely 

 because of the April 6-7 freeze, but further damage occurred in early May 

 in the northera area. Prior to the low temperatures the night of May 2, the 

 northern counties, especially Frederick, had more favorable prospects than 

 other commercial areas. Very light apple crops are now in prospect in all 

 commercial areas of the State. In Y/est Virginia and western Mar yland , damage 

 from April and early May freezes varla'd "grea'cly both within oFo hards and be- 

 tween orchards, and light crops are in prospect for both states. Codling 

 moth had begun to show some activity on April 1, but low April tempei-atures 

 reduced activity. In Del nware, apple crop prospects were reduced by early 

 April freezes. In NcrtH' ^'aro x'ir.a , there is very little fruit remaining in 

 the mountain counties. The~State's apple crop will be much smaller than 

 last year's large one. 



